How Can Alex Kirilloff Fit Back in the Twins' Line-Up?

He provides depth in tbe outfield, first base and DH, I'm sure he will get opportunities to play at all 3. 

Full-time first baseman. Gotta see if he is the TRUE answer.

With no DH, we can shuffle players there while Arraez plays elsewhere when the need arises, or DH's himself. You can spell Kirilloff maybe every 4th and 5th game with Arraez, with Alex playing a game in the outfield and one at DH.

Miranda needs to go to St. Paul and play third base most everyday, but also wedaring that first baseman's glove as a needed alternative, if that should arise.

Just like Royce Lewis needs to return to St. Paul and play shortstop, period. If the Twins didn't fool around with sending him around the diamond, he would be experiencing another nice 10 game showcase at shortstop. Instead, he has set himself back...maybe half-a-season.

Of course, when Sano comes back, we have to fit the big guy in everywhere and anywhere. Or do we? The past month, Sano who?

Y'know, the Twins are getting pretty close to entering 2023 with a fully homegrown team of alent...maybe minus a rotation arm and a couple of bullpen guys. But wouldn't that be nice to have developed a potential winning team rather than just buying pieces?

The roster needs to be juggled.   Correa will be back soon, so no room for Palacios.   Duffy needs to be DFA'd.    Kiriloff needs to move across town.     I would like to see a package of Kepler, Palacios and another piece to get some pitching.   

I would guess that if they want to bring him back he and Arraez will either split time at 1st and DH or they will primarily play Kirilloff at first and DH Arraez against righties.  Arraez could still get time at second or third when the matchups are good.

Given how much playing time we have seen Nick Gordon get in the outfield and Gary Sanchez receive at DH I would say there are some at-bats available.

If he can hit at MLB anywhere close to what he is doing at AAA he will fit where ever he can.  DH, 1B, OF.  I would much rather run him out there as a regular DH or move him around different positions than keep running Jeffers out as DH when Sanchez catches, or having Sanchez DH every time Jeffers Catches. Alex should be better hitters than either. 

Assuming he's really back, there shouldn't be that big a problem finding him ABs. Essentially, we have 7 players for 3 positions if he returns  - Arraez, Larnach, Kirilloff, Celestino, Sanchez (when not C), and Garlick, Miranda or Gordon (one of those three has to go to give Kirilloff a spot) for 1B, DH and LF.  I would Catch Sanchez 4 days a week, Jeffers the other 2 (or even consider moving Jeffers to AAA to work on his hitting), but not DH Sanchez when not catching. That leaves Arraez, Larnach, Kiriloff, Celestino, and Garlick or Gordon for LF, DH and 1B. Arraez plays only against RH pitching with Kirilloff at 1B and Larnach in LF or DH with Celestino getting the other. Celestino plays CF when Buxton sits/DHs and occasionally in RF for Kepler.  Garlick starts as the LF/DH against LH starters with Arraez at 1B and someone from the Larnach/Kirilloff/Celestino/Miranda group in the LF/DH spot.  There is a path to playing Kirilloff 4-5 days a week. The losers here are Jeffers becoming the true backup Catcher, Larnach not playing every day, and either Garlick, Mirnda or Gordon gone with the other two not getting anywhere near as many at bats. That means you only do this IF you think Kirilloff will play/hit better than Gordon, Miranda, Larnach and Jeffers.

Where it really becomes crowded is when Lewis is ready to come back. he frankly has played better at the MLB level than Gordon, Larnach, Kirilloff, Garlick, Miranda and Jeffers. Lewis should have first call on ABs over all of that group.  Good problem to have but injuries will probably solve it for us.      

22 minutes ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

Assuming he's really back, there shouldn't be that big a problem finding him ABs. Essentially, we have 7 players for 3 positions if he returns  - Arraez, Larnach, Kirilloff, Celestino, Sanchez (when not C), and Garlick, Miranda or Gordon (one of those three has to go to give Kirilloff a spot) for 1B, DH and LF.  I would Catch Sanchez 4 days a week, Jeffers the other 2 (or even consider moving Jeffers to AAA to work on his hitting), but not DH Sanchez when not catching. That leaves Arraez, Larnach, Kiriloff, Celestino, and Garlick or Gordon for LF, DH and 1B. Arraez plays only against RH pitching with Kirilloff at 1B and Larnach in LF or DH with Celestino getting the other. Celestino plays CF when Buxton sits/DHs and occasionally in RF for Kepler.  Garlick starts as the LF/DH against LH starters with Arraez at 1B and someone from the Larnach/Kirilloff/Celestino/Miranda group in the LF/DH spot.  There is a path to playing Kirilloff 4-5 days a week. The losers here are Jeffers becoming the true backup Catcher, Larnach not playing every day, and either Garlick, Mirnda or Gordon gone with the other two not getting anywhere near as many at bats. That means you only do this IF you think Kirilloff will play/hit better than Gordon, Miranda, Larnach and Jeffers.

Where it really becomes crowded is when Lewis is ready to come back. he frankly has played better at the MLB level than Gordon, Larnach, Kirilloff, Garlick, Miranda and Jeffers. Lewis should have first call on ABs over all of that group.  Good problem to have but injuries will probably solve it for us.      

Who would have thought we would have an embarrassment of depth after last season?

We don’t exactly NEED palacios or garlic if kiriloff is back to mashing. Miranda can also hop the river as needed. Play Alex somewhere every day and leave Royce in the big show as well when he returns in a week. 

Injuries and Covid happen. If you think there's a roster crunch issue, usually just waiting 48 hours for the issue to resolve itself is the best solution. 

He replaces whoever gets hurt next? I feel like every time we think there's a log jam anywhere in the lineup, an injury sorts that out right quick

Prior my 1st thought is put him as LH hitting 1B. But 1B has agreed with Arraez, he has been hitting better and even his base running has improved. Arraez doesn't look that good anywhere else so that'll cut back Kiriloff time at 1B. DH Kiriloff is by far a better hitter than Sanchez but Sanchez has been good in the clutch. I say Kiriloff could get the lion's share there. OF might be a little trickier since we have 4 LH hitting corner OFers Kepler, Larnach, Gordon and now Kiriloff. That'll leave Gordon to mainly sub at CF with RHPs and rotate Kiriloff with Larnach & Kepler on the corners.

IMO they'll ease Kiriloff in yet giving him plenty of ABs playing primarily DH when he does play and ready fill in when some one gets hurt in those positions. It's great that we're that deep.

The Twins need a regular line-up, where the same 8 guys play together at MINIMUM 70 percent of the time; they have turned into a advanced AAA team and will never get to the World Series doing that.

Wally Pipp is a name that comes up whenever a player loses his position because of injury.  Right now, Celestino, Kepler, Larnach, Garlick, Gordon, and occasionally Buxton make a good OF and Miranda and Arraez are good at 1B.  DH is the only place I see for him right now unless he replaces the two I list at 1B and they DH.  

I have looked forward to Lewis and Kirilloff for a long time.  I love the team we have now, but it is disappointing that the two of them are not on it. 

On June 19 they go down to 13 pitchers. If his wrist is not troubling him call him up then. The playing time will work itself out.

1 hour ago, mikelink45 said:

Wally Pipp is a name that comes up whenever a player loses his position because of injury.  Right now, Celestino, Kepler, Larnach, Garlick, Gordon, and occasionally Buxton make a good OF and Miranda and Arraez are good at 1B.  DH is the only place I see for him right now unless he replaces the two I list at 1B and they DH.  

I have looked forward to Lewis and Kirilloff for a long time.  I love the team we have now, but it is disappointing that the two of them are not on it. 

AK is a much better 1B than Arraez or Miranda. I'd assume the Twins would DH arraez instead of Kirilloff. Keep Arraez's bum knees healthier too. 

3 hours ago, mickster said:

The roster needs to be juggled.   Correa will be back soon, so no room for Palacios.   Duffy needs to be DFA'd.    Kiriloff needs to move across town.     I would like to see a package of Kepler, Palacios and another piece to get some pitching.   

We couldn't get anything better than what we already have for those players.  Plus, a team willing to trade good pitching is not likely to be interested in Kepler.  Good pitching is traded for elite prospects. 

I don't think it's difficult.  He's your full-time 1B.  Arraez becomes your full-time DH (no more Gary or Jeffers DHing)....Arraez can sub at 1st and 2nd, even third as needed.  Kiriiloff is a huge upgrade defensively at 1B although Arraez has done an admirable job.  I think Miranda goes down, although he's making that decision more and more difficult.  

I'm most confused on what they'll do with Royce.  He's got to be on the big league club, IMO.  Does Gordon have trade value?  He's a solid player, but Royce is a future star.  

13 hours ago, cheeseheadgophfan said:

I don't think it's difficult.  He's your full-time 1B.  Arraez becomes your full-time DH (no more Gary or Jeffers DHing)....Arraez can sub at 1st and 2nd, even third as needed.  Kiriiloff is a huge upgrade defensively at 1B although Arraez has done an admirable job.  I think Miranda goes down, although he's making that decision more and more difficult.  

I'm most confused on what they'll do with Royce.  He's got to be on the big league club, IMO.  Does Gordon have trade value?  He's a solid player, but Royce is a future star.  

Gordon's skill set has to have value.  A guy that can play that many positions and hit reasonably well has to be a tradeable asset.  The problem is pulling off a trade this time of year.  Sending down Miranda when the bat has come alive this way is a really tough pill to swallow but I don't see an alternative that does not require they cut Gordon or send Miranda down.

1 hour ago, dex8425 said:

AK is a much better 1B than Arraez or Miranda. I'd assume the Twins would DH arraez instead of Kirilloff. Keep Arraez's bum knees healthier too. 

I hope you are right

Short term, put Garlick on IL. The Twins keep hamstringing themselves (to use the obvious metaphor) by carrying injured people in order to spare them going on IL and thereby reducing their already short bench by one (or more) spots. Put Garlick on IL, call up Kirilloff, and split him between DH, 1B, and OF; Arraez can split time between 1st, 2nd, and DH. Sanchez can catch more than Jeffers (until/if he starts to hit), and occasionally DH (can't believe I just typed that, but he's been decent).

(Buxton should also go on IL, but that's another thread.)

If everyone else is healthy when Garlick comes back, send down Miranda to work on D. It won't kill him. I'm not worrying about what to do with Lewis until he actually nears readiness (and I expect it will be far enough out that he'll need rehab in St Paul, anyway).

The problem isn't fitting Kirilloff in to the lineup, or finding AB for him. The problem right now is fitting him on the 26 man roster.

I'm a huge fan and believer in AK. I think he, and Larnach, are going to each be major building blocks for the Twins the next 5-8yrs, health providing. And later this month, unless there is another rule change to extend the 14 pitcher max, staffs will have to set at 13. That leaves 13 position players. So let's look at that for a moment.

Jeffers and Sanchez are set at catcher. Larnach, Buxton, Kepler and Celestino are set in the OF. Arraez, Polanco, Correa, and probably Urshela are set for the infield.

So 10 of 13 spots are settled. That leaves 3 spots for Gordon, Garlick, and Miranda.

Miranda has produced a triple slash of .260/.288/.520 the last 15 games. His last 7 game triple slash shows .346/.370/.769. He's a top prospect with a bright future coming off an amazing 2021 and starting to figure things out.

Gordon hasn't had a great last 7 games. But his past 30 games has him at .266/.296/.404. He provides OK defense at 3 infield spots and good/great defense in LF/CF. He provides speed on the basepaths, occasional pop, and versatility. He keeps getting better, but his ceiling looks to be limited to super-utility. And there are a couple guys who have higher ceilings that may bump him come 2023, but we aren't there yet, and they haven't.  And if you've watched him enough, you've seen him make some great defensive plays, some nice throws, some important hits here and there, and speed that Rocco should take better advantage of. He's out of options. His trade value probably isn't much as he's not a full time starter. But I guarantee he would be snapped up in a heartbeat by another club who wants the overall value he brings.

Garlick is an average OF defensively, being only a tiny bit kind there. But he MASHES LF pitching, which is a surprising weakness of the Twins considering there are still some solid RH bats on hand. He's even had a couple good hits against RH this year. I think he's important and solid until someone better comes along.

How do you cut the talented, versatile and still improving Gordon at this time? (*Steer and others could replace him 2023). How do you cut a RH bat that mashes LH pitching which we remain susceptible to. And how do you demote a top prospect like Miranda who is starting to figure it out at the ML level?

Injuries and covid/health issues often make hard, temporary decisions moot. But as much as I am a fan and believer in Kirilloff being healthy and bashing for years to come, it just might be fine if he continues to mash at St Paul for a couple of weeks to be even more confident and zoned in before some injury/opportunity presents itself. If you were FORCED to make a move tomorrow, I think you'd have to send Miranda down since he has options. Thankfully, we don't have to make any decision today.

Older players are playing at upper levels because that is where their talent is at. It should not be a consideration at the AAA level for a player

Something always happens. A spot will open

8 hours ago, mickster said:

The roster needs to be juggled.   Correa will be back soon, so no room for Palacios.   Duffy needs to be DFA'd.    Kiriloff needs to move across town.     I would like to see a package of Kepler, Palacios and another piece to get some pitching.   

I agree, Kirilloff for the long haul and even the rest of the season seems a better bet than Kepler. How about an OF of Kirilloff, Lewis and Larnach when Buxton’s not playing.

I like Arraez at 1B. My belief is that there is no better option than a .358 hitter with a .445 OBP (at any position, really). Kirilloff could DH some, especially since Jeffers at DH has been a colossal weakness. And play 1st some but Arraez needs to play every game and bat leadoff.

I happen to think a top 2 of Arraez and Celestino would be awesome. Both high average and both very high on base.

Depending on whether Buxton can make a big improvement, A top 4 of Arraez, Celestino, Correa and Kirilloff could intrigue. Then Larnach and Sanchez the Urshela. Then you need to fit Lewis in. 

I believe the Twins should sign Correa long term and play both Lewis and Correa in the same lineup for the long haul.

I think trading Kepler well would be a good start. I also love Gordon  and think the Twins need to keep him because  he’s - and Chris Archer said this recently, even if just dazzled by one game - he called Gordon a 5 tool player. He does have power, when you consider triples and HRs. He generates a lot of bat speed with that whippet quick swing.

If they cut the Mustard, they will stay in the Big Show, if not they will become  like Jake Cave, life time Minor League or be traded.

Fielding is and has been for a long time more important to the Twins than the bat; none of the rookies have bedazzled with their gloves.

If they cannot equal  Donaldson/Simmon/Polanco -- Ushela/Correa/Polanco next year, this team will be, at best, back to the .500 + or -  a few, of the Seventies until they bring in some top shelf vets as they did in 2019.

Kirilloff needs to produce in his next opportunity. He is a pretty fair first baseman and has a sweet swing. When he gets his shot, and he will within the month, Alex must show his worth because he is likely to push aside a pretty good player. The Twins are better defensively with Kirilloff at first base. They are better with him hitting .280-320 with power. He can do be a solid player on both sides of the ball.

There are a lot of bodies that should produce. But not a surplus that are producing. Buxton and Polanco are playing hurt and underperforming, and Jeffers should probably get some minor league time to get right. With several guys who can play CF and 2B and take over Sanchez' DH at bats, sounds like that solves the crunch short term. And that's all you need to decide on for now.

But you have to play the hot hand for now. If we can afford to rest Polanco and Buxton while doing so, all the better. Just make it real rest, and give those ABs to guys with a future in your lineup, not Gordon and Garlick.

Play him at 1B and DH.  Likewise, use Luis Arraez at 1B, DH, and 2B.

End the madness of having Jeffers DH when Sanchez is catching.

14 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Given how much playing time we have seen Nick Gordon get in the outfield and Gary Sanchez receive at DH I would say there are some at-bats available.

Also I think there will be some playing time opening up at 2B for Arreaz to get some games if Polanco doesn’t improve his results soon.